J. L. Crowe Secondary students are bringing a little bit of Vegas to the Charles Bailey Theatre Thursday with an opening number from their own “Bully Manilow.”
Grade 12 student Erik Bullanoff will perform “Copacabana” with help from a group of male students and teachers sporting tight black dresses, colourful wigs and moves that will kick off the fifth-annual Crowe Variety Show in . . . style?
“A lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears has gone into this show,” said Bullanoff, who channels Barry Manilow’s look and confidence during the performance.
“I don’t know how they’re going to be able to top that because it’s pretty awesome.”
Beyond comedy, the show that starts at 7 p.m. will showcase talented singers, dancers, actors, pianists and guitarists from grades 8-12.
“The show is about letting everybody’s talents shine and also connecting us back with the community to really show what we have to offer,” said Grade 12 student Tiffany Kanda, who is one of the many students who helps leadership instructor Terry Jones organize the event.
Classmates Ben McNamee and Macaulay Morton will star in a reenactment of the hit TV show “How I Met Your Mother” while fellow students will help bring their rendition of MADtv’s Coach Hines – a short-tempered, energetic, booty shorts-wearing high school gym teacher – to life.
The students can’t wait to see a much-anticipated performance from teachers at the school, who are roped into embarrassing acts by the high school’s principal David DeRosa.
“They always surprise us, they never really show us until the night of and then they blow us all away every year,” said Kanda.
At the end of the night, a former Crowe employee will be recognized for being an inspiration to the community and given the Golden Apple Award.
The real display of talent is a “fun-draiser” for the school, with the majority of the proceeds going to school scholarships.
Tickets are $12 each and can be picked up at the Charles Bailey Theatre box-office.
